Means of declutching



Sept 25,1928.

1,685,596 J. BETHENOD MEANS OF DECLUTCHING Filed Aug. 5, 1926 lNVENTOR BETHENOD ATTORNEY JOSEPH Patented Sept. 25, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH IBETHENOD, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO MOTOR INDUSTRIES, INC., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MEANS OF DECLUTCHING.

Application filed August 5, 1926, Serial No. 127,471, and in France August 7, 1925.

The object of my invention is to realize a simple device which automatically produces the disengaging of the clutch of a motorcar, or the like, as soon as the throttle pedal is released.

It is in this way possible to obtain a very important fuel saving, which is evident to any automotive en eer.

This device consists in producing the dis- 0 engaging by means of a vacuum servo-motor, whic is connected for example to the inlet manifold of the motor of the car'.- This servo-motor acts on the clutch as soon as the throttle pedal is released; this result is obtained by means of a distributing valve, or the like, which controls the degree of vacuum.

The figure shows a. form of my invention as applied to a cone clutch 1. According to a known disposition, the clutching is effected by means of a spring 2, and the de clutching is obtained when depressing a foot-pedal 3, which acts by means of a lever 4. The vacuum motor comprises a cylinder 5, inwhich slides a piston 6 which is connected up to the lever 4 by means of a rod 7 A pipe 8 connects the cylinder 5 up to the distribution valve 9, which is communicating with the inlet manifold of the motor by means of another pipe 10. Further, themovement of the pistons of the valve 9 is controlled by the throttle pedal 11, which acts on the throttle by means of the rod 12.

This device operates as follows:

When the motor is idle, the cylinder 5 communicates with the inlet manifold of the motor, as shown on the figure. Hence the piston 6 pulls on the rod 7, and the clutch 1 is thrown out. As soon as the pedal 11 is depressed, the communication between the cylinder 5 and the inlet manifold is inter rupted by the piston 13, and the former communicates with the atmos here through the orifice 14. Then the clutc l is thrown m;

Sometimes, the piston valve 9 can be supplied by a single valve, which obstructs an orifice as lon as the pedal 11 is released. Besides a 000 or the like, can be added in order to suppress the action of the device,

lvlvllilen, for example, the car is going down a The motor can thus act as a brake, as well known. It will be noticed that when the clutch is sufficiently progressive this arrangement dispenses with any foot operation on the usual clutch pedal, when starting.

A dash-pot can be added in order to increase the progressivity of the clutching.

Finally, it is obvious that. the vacuum servo-motor can be supplied for example by an electrical servo-motor fed by means of the storage battery of the car. I

In such a case, the operation of the device remains the same as above, the piston valve being naturally supplied by a switch.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Automobile controlling mechanism including a clutch edal, an accelerator, and an intake-manifold connection, in combination with a suction-operated device acting on the clutch pedal, and a valve for connecting said device to the intake-manifold connection and which is connected to the accelerator and which includes a cylinder and a double-piston valve in the cylinder, the space between the piston ortions of said valve being in alinement with the intake-manifold connection and with the connection to said device when the accelerator is released, and with one of the piston portions of said valve arranged between the intake-manifold connection and the connection to said device when the accelerator is opereated.

JOSEPH BETHENOD. 

